Three major fires mobilize 1,300 operators

Mainland Portugal is again under a yellow warning today due to persistent high temperatures, with the only exception being the district of Faro, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

In the districts of Lisbon, Leiria, and Aveiro, the warning begins at 9:00 a.m. today, while in the other districts, it is already in effect. All warnings will remain in effect until at least 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

In Madeira, the South Coast and mountainous regions are also under a yellow warning until 6:00 pm today due to the heat.

Almost all municipalities in the north, center and Algarve regions are currently at maximum or very high risk of rural fires, according to data from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

On the north coast, only the municipalities of Esposende (Braga), Póvoa de Varzim (Porto) and Murtosa, Aveiro and Ílhavo (all in the district of Aveiro) are at moderate risk of rural fires.

In the Algarve, the municipalities of Olhão, Faro, Albufeira, and Lagoa are the only ones at moderate risk. For the remaining municipalities, the IPMA forecasts high to maximum risk.

At 7:00 a.m. this Tuesday, according to data on the Civil Protection website, the three largest fires in Portugal broke out in Arouca, Penamacor and Ponte da Barca.

In Canelas and Espiunca, Arouca, there are currently 555 firefighters on the ground, supported by 176 firefighting vehicles. In Aranhas, Penamacor, there are currently 388 firefighters and 137 firefighting vehicles on the ground.

In Lindoso, Ponte da Barca, early this morning there are 377 operators fighting the large fire, supported by 126 land vehicles.

By 4:00 a.m., according to Lusa, more than 1,300 firefighters were fighting these three larger fires.

Good morning,

For the second day in a row, we've opened this liveblog to follow the large-scale fires that are breaking out in Portugal.

The three largest fires are recorded in Arouca, Penamacor and Ponte da Barca.

During the night, the population of the village of Ermida, in Ponte da Barca, was “confined in the church” of that location, after the village was surrounded by flames.